MUMBAI: In a world of spy thrills, masala potboilers, and massy avatars (as good as they are), we sometimes need the odd, no-nonsense, balls-to-the-walls, batshit crazy action movie that's all about raw fight choreography and intense moments. We got it earlier this year with Kill, arguably the best Bollywood film of 2024, and we're now spoiled with two in the same year as the Siddhant Chaturvedi, Malavika Mohanan, and Raghav Juyal starrer, Yudhra, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani's Excel Entertainment, has released in theaters.
Yudhra, played by Siddhant Chaturvedi with all the unhinged unpredictability, guts, and glory the character needs, essays an escaped con, sucked back into a drug cartel, who eventually vows to bring down the poisonous empire and everyone involved with it. It makes for a pounding, adrenaline-pumping showdown with all the players on either side if that's your thing, and make no mistake, everyone a part of the ensemble is equally up to the task either by way of fists or fiendish machinations, including Gajraj Rao, Ram Kapoor, Raj Arjun, but not least Raghav Juyal. He once again pulls out all the stops to tap into a deliciously diabolical side, carried forward from Kill. It's telling that the dancer and host of reality shows merely needed the faith of filmmakers to display what he's really made of.
Additional props to the writers for not relegating Malavika Mohanan and Shilpa Shukla to mere props, ensuring that they're intrinsic to the unfolding narrative. Such character arcs are what add spice to an already pretty watertight script. I say “pretty” though because it could've easily been done with a tighter middle portion and better editing by Tushar Parekh and Anand Subaya, a curse that befalls most Bollywood movies. It's here where Kill scored over Yudhra, making the former an instant masterpiece while the latter has to make do with being a very good piece of action cinema, destined to be remembered for a long time, just not in the same vein.
The production values from Excel are expectedly top notch, including some fine VFX and slick camerawork by Jay Pinak Oza. Plus, Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara's background score adds the necessary pizzaz to the pulsating mayhem on screen.
Join Yudhra on his quest in a theater if you're a diehard action junkie. It's certain to get your juices flowing.
3.5/5 stars
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